By Trevor Thomas Williams
Five Carols for Christmas, the newest Christmas offering from The Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City, is a holiday fest that made me feel jingly and delighted. Set in 1954, Five Carols for Christmas takes us back to a time that can usually be seen only in old movies and re-runs of TV Shows. All the “Carols” are women with some iteration of the name Carol, and they sing, naturally, carols for their big concert at the local high school. Five women who want to be part of a group, but also stars in their own right, and few goof ups including the power going out, yet you’ll see how these five friends work together to (hopefully) make the concert a success.
Having seen several shows at The Grand Theatre in the past, I knew I was in for a treat before I
even arrived at the theater, but I wasn’t expecting to discover a new holiday favorite. My
expectations were met and exceeded by this beautiful production.
Meghan Parrish (Carol Ann/Carol Ann Farrell), Bailee Deyoung (Miss Q/Queryl Pomerantz), Krystal Day (Kitty/Karil Kitteridge), Heather Poffenberger (Ling-Ling/Carroll Ling), and Alli Hogge (“The Noise” aka “Noyesy”/Car’l Noyes) navigate Christmas classics such as “Oh Christmas Tree” and brand-new songs such as “Marvelous Magazines” with tight harmonies and beautiful voices. It was impossible to pick a favorite Carol, as all five actresses have stunning voices and incredible comedic timing. I was so impressed with the beautiful arrangements of beloved classics, and the catchy original songs, that I found myself scouring the internet for a professional cast recording of the musical during intermission. My favorite
number was “Dress Up Your Shelter”, a hilarious number giving housewives ideas for making
their bomb shelters festive for the holiday season. By the end of the number I was in stitches,
laughing so hard I could barely catch my breath. I was equally as impressed with Justin Lee
(Cousin Ray) and Lance Smith (Principal). Although they do not have as much stage time as the
sensational leading ladies, they each committed to their roles and had me guffawing with the
rest of the audience.
Set Designer Silas Stott created the perfect backdrop for the incredible actors. The living room
set in Act One is cozy and immediately gets you into the Christmas mood. From the stockings
hung from the fireplace with care, to the comfy armchairs, the set pulls you in and creates a
warm atmosphere for this heartwarming Christmas musical. The fun and festive lighting design
by Hayden Wadsworth fit the show perfectly and effortlessly directed the audience’s focus
exactly where it needed to be at all times. I especially loved the moment at the end of act one
when a spotlight was used to foreshadow the hijinks of “Ding Dong Debacle” in Act Two.
The delightful costumes designed by Shelly Burkhardt, Catherine Zublin, and Phil Lowe, paired
with the fabulous Hair and Makeup design by Cindy Johnson transport you to the 1950’s right
from the start with fashion and hairstyles that are unmistakable from the time period, making
the actresses look like they stepped right out of a photograph from 1954. Each performer has a
costume and hairstyle that perfectly matched their character.
The Sound Design by Davis Bitton is perfectly executed. Each voice is heard clearly, and the
tight five-part harmonies are perfectly balanced and mixed. I heard each voice with crisp
clarity and felt like I was five feet from the actors instead of in the fifth row.
You do not want to miss Five Carols for Christmas at The Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This show is sure to become one of your favorites. Five Carols for Christmas has a short run, so don’t miss out. You’ll be singing carols on the drive home, if not also as you watch the show. Merry Christmas!
It is sure to become a new holiday tradition.
The Grand Theatre presents Five Carols for Christmas, Book and Lyrics by Jim Christian, Music by
Kenneth Plain.
The Grand Theatre, 1575 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
December 16-22, 2022
Tickets: $30 Senior Citizen Tickets $24. The Grand Theatre is proud to offer many specialized discounts
for groups, military/veterans, college students, alumni, junior high and high school students,
and many more. Call the box office for more information.
Contact: 801-957-3322, Fax: 801-957-3300, Email: grandtheatre@slcc.edu
Box Office: Monday-Friday Noon-8:00 PM, Saturday Noon-8:00 PM
The Grand Theatre’s Website
The Grand Theatre’s Facebook Page
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